41 historical artifacts of Anatolian origin to return to Türkiye from US

By Isa Toprak

At least 41 historical artifacts of Anatolian origin, illegally taken out of Türkiye, are returning to the country from the US.

According to the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, new additions have been made to the cultural assets that have been returned to Türkiye since 2021, with the cooperation and joint efforts over the past five years between the ministry and the US Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Türkiye’s Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Gokhan Yazgi and his accompanying delegation received artifacts at the Turkish House in New York.

After the handover ceremony, Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said: “We have received at the Turkish House in New York another group of our artifacts, which were illegally taken from our country.”

“As a result of successful collaboration with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigation Unit, a total of 41 cultural assets, including bronze heads, busts, and silver figurines, are returning home,” he added.

The total number of artifacts returned to Türkiye has reached 30,059, he added.

The artworks are planned to be brought to Türkiye at the end of the month.